September 2008
135 posts
“Summer Holiday? I wish it were…”, Raoul Pal, GIM, August 2008 — Excerpt:
The World’s biggest mess
Firstly, the assumption is that the US is going into a nasty recession followed by the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Germany and most of Europe. We are also going to see big dents to growth in Asia, but will probably be avoiding stall speed.
It’s the Magic Cycle
And let’s be clear why we are in...
“Now she has died in the terrors of a sudden contemplation — Drowned in the...”
– Thomas Merton, On Manhattan
“München leuchtet”
– Thomas Mann
S,
After giving the matter some more thought I reconsidered and concluded that you were correct re: begging the question. As an external observer we cannot tell whether the artistic expression comes from without or within, and to define ‘ideal form’ as without would be to beg the essentialist question. Nonetheless, this is how it is described in many artistic circles — and it...
I learned today that pastor’s VvG started his career as missionary to the poor, switching to painting only in late twenties.
The last few days searching for freelance work, attempting to understand the German permit system, hiking near the Austrian border, discussing monogamy, shoe shopping, visiting museums, church and bathhouse — the greatest moment my first honest appreciation of the crucifix atop the mountain peak. Each Bavarian peak has steel cross; nearby in caretaker’s hut, a crucifix plain but...
VvG: on the way to death / we protest reality / my missionary
JW Goethe | Der König in Thule
WP | Stripper index is down in the big apple →
Apparently Recommended by Warren Buffett →
To read: Book on Rieff →
From S:
This sounds like begging the question:
“This also serves to suggest that personal evolution happens along a similar trajectory as the historical evolution of species — also cultures, which are outside the scope of this investigation — along a perceived individual essence which is the exeception rather than the rule of every species (and grouping).”
Since people are the...
NRC Interview on the Economic Crisis →
“Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the...”
– Psalms
Crunchy Cons vs. Libertarians →
Religious Experience
As discussed previously in brief, ‘religious experience’ seems often treated in an overly simplistic manner, but bears significantly on the future prospects of American Christian-revivalistic religion. The questions at the center: Do Christian and revivalistic religious patterns have a natural overlap? Can they be separated? As I noted in my earlier post, there is a position which...
Arcana | Like Statues in the Garden of Dreaming
Just finished some tea consulting. Trying to figure out what to do with teoism.com
Academic Articles on Chinese Popular Religion →
Leaf by Niggle reminds me of Gogol’s saying to the effect of, ‘Do something useful; the rest will follow.’
“Of course, painting has uses,” said Tompkins. “But you...”
– Leaf by Niggle, Tolkien
Language, Pedagogy
On recent test only one section less than satisfactory: speaking. A result both of intent, bad habit, and misunderstanding about the grading matrix. The bad habit is the result of absorption of Japanese culture, which crippled while I was there and remains a problem; the same problem observed among Japanese students here, a reticence to speak, and constant deference to social convention —...
Back to Orestes Brownson.
To E:
The source is my desire to maintain my individual autonomy, which requires understanding the mechanisms involved, which requires near continuous analystical introspection, which does not allow the suspension of brain activity which might compromise my autonomous self — I expect this condition to continue until I can find the appropriate environment (i.e. a sanga) with appropriately...
Clay Shirky on Filter Failure →
Again, good discussion on the Row Boat on risk managment models with attention to the recent discussion (advocacy?) of the Dubai model to curb ‘extremism’ in the NYTimes.
A bailout and a new world →
Not everyone loves the US.
An investigation of space:
Although Clay Shirky does an admirably good job at providing commentary on the evolution of digital communities, this field and others suffer from a circumscribed understanding of social and societal structures, which ultimately result in circumscribed discussions of the individual’s position within these newly created cultures and structures. I do not have any...
Abstracted one level, the present financial crisis is a reflection of the software-hardware divide I described in March.
The knowledge economy has the problem of other software products — namely the ease at which they move into obfuscation. Numerous software engineers tell tales of those who created special status for themselves on the basis of their powers of obfuscation, which accorded...
Last night narrowly avoided a party with the Euro youth at same accomodation, many also speaking English. Thankfully (or non?) my “Mac” look is outside the stream — I probably have already picked up a deserved reputation for unusual behavioral patterns.
Related (and odd still by my reckoning) is meeting those well-traveled and interesting who do not view America as the center of...
Third trip to the doctor today revealed that I have not a liver problem; instead likely a stomach problem completely unrelated to former complications (a relief, as relatedness in this case could leave me stranded in the frightening land of no insurance coverage), and according to her likely the result of changes in diet and stress. Now with sanction to drink caffine and alchohol again. Quite...
As a thought experiment, can the optimal system with simple definition provided be applied to political systems and more pure metaphysical-mathematical-scientific systems simply by changing the definition of the ‘good’ ?
Could ‘civil society’ be one such system?
Optimal Systems
Current definition of ‘optimal system’ within the context of economics, philosophy, theology, and other subjects.
(1) Extensive Explanatory framework which fits a maximal number of available facts. (2) Divisible Separable into component parts which provide explanations for different sets of available facts. (2’) Adaptable System possesses ability to bring in new component parts...
Bloomberg | The Ratings Agencies →
What is purity?
The clouds of nuclear dust passed over them, but there was no longer any danger. America did not enter the war; Hitler conquered Europe. A few ships sailed on, laden with gold, clocks, and Jews, but gold was not enough to make them welcome at now unfriendly ports. “Trade must go on,” so brethren told them at Ellis Island. They were turned around; made to sail into greater sea. ...
RS Thomas, Autumn (Anathema,...
“Denn die da fleischlich sind, die sind fleischlich gesinnt; die aber geistlich...”
Der Wind bläst, wo er will, und du hörst sein Sausen wohl; aber du weißt nicht, woher er kommt und wohin er fährt. So ist es bei jedem, der aus dem Geist geboren ist.
“As long as people are compensated hugely for taking risks with other people’s...”
– Paul Wilmott, NY TImes
I am disappointed by my performance on this test today, again. A couple misspellings I know about already, and one question skipped because of inadequate pacing. Moreover, my liver is in pain. I need to see a doctor, but incline only towards more bed rest.
Did little except rest this weekend and now feel worse as a result.
